66
22:21
Since the Rangers manage significantly more pinpricks than before the change of sides due to quick switching moments, the game in round two is much more entertaining. However, there is still a lack of clear conclusions.
63
22:19
Laimer appears in the half-right offensive corridor just before the last enemy line. The Austrian only manages a shot from 18 meters, which is easy prey for Glasgow goalkeeper McGregor.
61
22:16
Crosses have hardly played a role in Leipzig’s goal threat so far: Angeliño’s cross from the left and Henrich’s high assist attempt from the right in quick succession find no takers, as they fly into an unoccupied space.
58
22:13
The Saxons register an increased combination speed in forward gear and thus tear larger gaps in the defense of the Scottish champions. He proved twice that he can be dangerous with a counterattack.
55
22:10
Nkunku with the first task for McGregor! The Frenchman has a free shot thanks to a one-two with Szoboszlai on the half-left edge of the box. He fires the ball hard with his right instep, but in the middle of the goal. McGregor raises his arms and parries forward. Goldson then finally clarifies.
53
22:09
The second guest shot after the break! Aribo’s header on the right side of the penalty area thunders Tavernier from about twelve meters with his right instep in the direction of the home goal. Adams blocks the powerful attempt to corner. The brings the Rangers nothing.
51
22:06
Kent with best chance of the night! As part of a counterattack, the Englishman fills up the half-left in the sixteen. He passes Gvardiol on the left and aims for the long corner from a tight angle and a good eight meters. He misses by about a meter.
49
22:04
Neither Domenico Tedesco nor Giovanni van Bronckhorst made any personnel changes during the break.
46
22:01
Welcome back to the second round in the Red Bull Arena! The Bundesliga club is dealing with an extremely cautious opponent who defends very deeply out of respect for the playing skills of the Saxons. With all due respect for the defensive level of the Rangers, it is very disappointing for Leipzig that guest keeper McGregor has not had to save a single ball so far. Does the favorite attack with more momentum after the break?
46
22:01
Kick-off 2nd half
45
21:47
Mid-term conclusion:
It is 0-0 at the break in the Europa League semi-final first leg between RB Leipzig and Rangers FC. The Saxons dominated the action with clear ball possession and field advantages from the start, but due to a lack of power in and in the opponent’s sixteen they didn’t even come close to dangerous shots in the first quarter of an hour. After blocked attempts by Nkunku (18th) and Laimer (20th), the Light Blues managed an initial phase that was a bit more active, but harmless for the home team. At the end of the day there was a quick transition from the Tedesco selection, which Angeliño ended with a direct acceptance from a short distance; Another defender got in the way, so the ball didn’t find its way into the Scots’ goal either (33′). The Tedesco team didn’t have a real chance in the closing stages either. See you soon!
44
21:45
Exceptionally, there is a counterattack situation for the hosts. Laimer drives the ball forward through the center and wants to put it through to Szoboszlai. Bassey anticipated the pass and intercepts the ball.
42
21:42
The Red Bulls are unable to shed their lack of ideas in the final stages of the first half either, and they keep running headlong in these minutes as well. The only reasonably effective means are high passes behind the chain of half-spaces.
39
21:38
Aribo works in the air duel with Halstenberg with his elbow, catches the Leipziger with the shirt number in midfield on the neck. Referee Bastien does not give the first yellow card of the game.
36
21:36
Laimer manages to get behind the last defensive line again by running behind on the right wing. His half-high cross, which is intended for Olmo, is imprecise and flies past friend and foe in front of the box.
33
21:32
Angeliño with the direct acceptance! At the end of a quick counterattack, Szoboszlai crosses from the right corner of the box to the deep left side of the box. Angeliño unpacks a left instep volley destined for the far corner. Goldson stands in the way and blocks.
31
21:31
Barišić’s execution of Rangers’ debut corner finds its way to Goldson. The advanced defender jumps higher than his guard Halstenberg at the penalty spot. He heads far beyond the Leipzig box.
29
21:29
… Tavernier’s execution is understated. Nevertheless, the Saxons can only clarify through Angeliño at the second attempt. But things didn’t get dangerous for Gulácsi’s hate speech.
28
21:28
Glasgow are awarded a free-kick in the offensive half-right after Adams’ foul on Kent…
26
21:26
The first half hour of this semi-final pairing shows that the Red Bulls may face a real test of patience. So far, the Rangers have not only defended with many legs, but also very concentrated.
23
21:23
The Light Blues succeed in a first phase in which they can let the ball circulate through their own ranks for longer. However, they rarely make it across the center line.
20
21:20
The next penalty scene of the Saxons! A one-two with Klostermann gets Laimer half-left behind the opposing defensive line. The Austrian aims for the short corner from full run and 13 meters, but Goldson gets his foot in the path of the shot and prevents keeper McGregor from having to intervene.
18
21:18
Nkunku forgives from a good position! As a result of a high shift to the right side of the penalty area, Henrichs plays flat towards the penalty spot. Nkunku wants to complete the second contact with the right instep from a central position, but Bassey blocks with a straddle.
15
21:15
After several direct short passes, Szoboszlai wants to stage Henrichs on the right side of the penalty area with a lob. The pass is set too high for the ex-Monegasque and slips through to goalkeeper McGregor.
13
21:12
Laimer finds his way to the baseline for the first time via the right flank. However, his cross sails too close in front of the visitors’ box, so goalkeeper McGregor is there on the edge of five in front of Olmo.
10
21:09
In this initial phase, the Bundesliga club has clear field advantages and pushes the guest far to his sixteen. The Red Bulls’ passing game is quite decent; In terms of speed, there is still some room for improvement.
7
21:06
By the way, the reigning Scottish champions defend with a five-man chain. Contrary to the expected defensive formation, Lundstram occupies the central position between Bassey and Goldson.
5
21:05
Nkunku is the addressee of a ball through Adams on the right side of the box. After the first contact he goes into a duel with Goldson. From this, the Englishman emerges as the winner with fair means.
3
21:03
The home side promptly ended their first ball possession phase with a shot. However, Laimer’s direct acceptance from 25 meters is blocked by central defender Bassey.
1
21:00
Leipzig vs. Rangers – Round one of the semi-final first leg in the Red Bull Arena has begun!
20:58
The Europa League anthem sounds.
20:57
The teams have just entered the pitch in front of 41,122 spectators.
20:40
The Scots, who last reached a European semi-final in the 2007/2008 UEFA Cup and are six points behind city rivals and leaders Celtic FC in the domestic Premiership, coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst is back after the 3-1 draw. Away win at Motherwell FC five times. Bassey, Lundstram, Jack, Aribo and Kent oust Balogun, Davis, Arfield, Diallo and Sakala to the bench.
20:33
On the side of the Saxons, whose greatest success on the international stage so far is reaching the Champions League semi-finals in 2020 and who are currently fourth in the Bundesliga and are again on course for the premier class, coach Domenico Tedesco has compared to the 1: 2 home defeat against the 1. FC Union Berlin made six personnel changes. Instead of Simakan, Orban, Kampl (all yellow suspended), Mukiele, Forsberg and Poulsen (all on the bench) Klostermann, Gvardiol, Henrichs, Szoboszlai, Olmo and Laimer.
20:23
Rangers FC are in the last few weeks of a very long European season having entered the 3rd round of Champions League qualifiers at the beginning of August. After the Light Blues failed in this one at Malmö FF, they trembled into the group stage of the Europa League with a razor-thin advantage over FC Alashkert. In Season A they managed to get through behind Olympique Lyon and ahead of Sparta Praha and Brøndby IF. In the knockout stage, after Borussia Dortmund, they eliminated Red Star Belgrade (3-0 and 1-2) Sporting Braga; the Portuguese were defeated after extra time.
20:14
RB Leipzig, who can look forward to a second final for the first title in the club’s young history after reaching the DFB Cup final, beat Real Sociedad (2-2 and 3-1 ) and the Atalanta BC (1:1 and 2:0); both the Basques and Lombards defeated the Red Bulls away from home draws. They survived the round of 16 without a fight because of the exclusion of Spartak Moscow.
20:06
For the first time since the North German semi-final between SV Werder Bremen and Hamburger SV 13 years ago, RB Leipzig and SG Eintracht Frankfurt are two Bundesliga clubs in the semi-finals of the Europa League. However, Saxony and Hesse are not yet meeting each other, but are dealing with British clubs: While the Eagles want to get rid of the London club West Ham United FC, RB Leipzig has to deal with the Scottish champions Rangers FC from Glasgow , who surprisingly threw Borussia Dortmund out of the competition in February.
20:00
Hello and welcome to the Europa League on Thursday night! RB Leipzig welcomes Rangers FC in the semi-final first leg. Saxons and Scots will face each other on the lawn of the Red Bull Arena from 9 p.m.